Aerial trailer



Jan. E3, w42. F. G. MANsoN AERIAL TRAILER Z'Sheets-Sheet l "f I ,|NvEN'TOR. Frank E1-Man5mT-L File@ June 5, 1935 Jam 39 E942 F. G. MANsoN v v2,269,469

AER IAL TRAILER Filed June 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEL-'ank ELIVIanSDT'L AT'roRNEY5 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 Unirse STAT s Y e TENT ' ortica 2,269,469 l AERIAL TRAILER Frank George Manson, Dayton, Ohio Application June sf'iess, serial No. 25,168

11 claims. (ci: 27a-icas) (Granted under the actief March 3., 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 03. (3l-757) The invention described herein may bemanu'- factured and used by or for the Governmentfor governmental purposes, without the paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in? aerial trailers which vare more particularly adapted for use as tow targets, but which may be used for other purposes, such as advertisingetc.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- ,Y vision of an aerial tow target which may be usedV as such, with a high degree of efficiency in connection with anti-aircraft or other gunnery practice.

Another object of this invention is the pro-l vision of an improved aerial `tow target which'v embodies such construction as to present sufficient area to gunners, as a target; which presents a'minimum of drag toa towing aircraft, and

which is sulhciently stable while being towed as launching process, and yet which will eiciently deploy within a short period of time to permit of accurate use as a target for gunners,etc.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved aerial tow target which'.I

while embodying improved means to presenta suicient area to gunners, a minimum of drag ts the aircraft, and remain stable during the towing process; yet may be manufactured at a minimum of cost due to conservation of materials.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved method of constructing and packing a tow target within a small compass.

Other objects and advantages of this` invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tow target in its deployed condition and as it will appear to marksmen or others who are observing thesame.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tow target, showing the main features ofconstruction thereof.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and '7 are sectional views 55 taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Figure -8 is aside elevation of one of the smaller inating sleeves of the tow target, showing the construction of the same.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a sectional View taken substantially on theline I--l of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the air deflecting and inflating panels o1' bridles which enable immediate deployment and inflation of the tow target after it is launched.

Figure 12 is a section of webbing which is secured to the rleading end of the tow target for the purpose of forming an anchoring coupling to which the tow cable is attached.

f Figure 13 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner in which the various portions of the Vtow target are doubled and hemmed, with the reinforcing and stiffening webbing associated with the folded portions thereof.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the aerial trailer or tow target,

which may include a main sleeve or body B having associated therewith a structure C comprising a plurality of inflating sleeves in an improved relation, and with which is associated a nn or bridle arrangement D for the purpose of stabilizing and directing air into the sleeves B and C. A tow cable E is connected at the leading end kof the bridle arrangement D.

flated diameter of the main sleeve may approximate thirty-nine inches in diameter, although this distance may vary for various purposes. For instance, for ordinary gun target use it may be ysmaller than for anti-aircraft target practice, and

when used for other purposes, the aerial trailer, such as for advertising purposes, may vary considerably in size. For ordinary target uses the main sleeve B may Vary between twenty-six inches and thirty-nine inches in inflated diameter, and the length thereof may vary between nine and eighteen feet, although these dimensions are not to be regarded as limitations upon the'inventive structural features.

The trailing end of the mainv sleeve has a ring-shaped section 20 which is appropriately stitched thereto as at 2|, as by doubling the material of the sleeve upon itself to provide at the extreme trailing end a circumferential passageway 22 wherein is disposed a section of rope or cable 23. Preferably this cable 23 is of onequarter inch manila yacht rope, although it may be of elastic material, similar to the elastic restricting cable which is used in the vents vof parachutes. The purpose of the rope or cable material 23 is to restrict the outlet at the trailing end of the sleeve B. The cable or rope 23 has a normal diameter which is somewhat less than the diameter of the passageway 24 thru the sleeve B, and in this respect puckers the ring 20 at the trailing end of the sleeve B, to provide as a restricted outlet opening 30. `Thus the necessary drag is created upon the target as it is towed by the aircraft, to properly deploy the target in a path which can be predetermined.r The diameter of the outlet opening 30 as defined by the rope or cable 23 is such as to permit the Aair to spill through the target without unnecessary restriction upon the speed of the aircraft.

Referring to the intermediate section of the tow target, which may' be. appropriately termed the small sleeve section C, the same is provided in order to insure an accurate and eflicient launching of the tow target; to permit of the folding of the tow target into small compass; and to permit instant inflation. To thatl end this section C consists of a plurality of small diametered sleeves 28, which are preferably of the same material as the sleeve B. At their rear ends these sleeves or tubes 28 are connected inA the forward open end of the large body sleeve B and extend therefrom forwardly exteriorly of the sleeve B: the same being connected in a symmetrical arrangement at their forward ends and having the bridle construction D attached thereto.

The construction of each of the sleeves A2|! is indicated in Figures and 8 of the drawings. For their major length each consists of a single ply of material'. The diameter of these tubes is of course governed by the diameter of the large tube or sleeve B. It is preferred to use six of them, arranged so that when the tow target is inated their axes will lie parallel with each other and with the tow axis of theaerial trailer. At their forward ends eachof the sleeves 28 is preferably doubled upon itself to provide a multifold hem 38a, which may be stitched in any approved manner, in order to provide a circumferential passageway for a rigid preferably metallic ring 3|. These rings 3| are all of the same diameter. Eyelets or grommets 32 are provided radially through this hem portion 30a in such relation that when the sleeves 28 are placed in a symmetrical circular arrangement, laces 35, shown in Figure 9, may be employed to connect the said ring ends of the sleeves 28 together, and so that the sleeves may be swiveled at these ring ends. This enables the rigid rings 3| to be folded one upon the other in order to pack the tow target into a small compass and in such orderly fashion that it may be quickly deployed. The rings 3| may be of any approved construction, as

.is shown in Figure 9, and they may be formed by bending the material upon itself at its ends and soldering it as at 38 after wrapping it with wire.

At their rear ends the sleeves 28 are each doubled outwardly upon themselves, to provide a double ply portion 31 of about six inches in length which is intended to extend into the open forward end of the main sleeve B so as to direct the air flowing through the smaller sleeve into the larger sleeve. Strong linen webbing 40 is stitched circumferentially about the sleeve 28 at the forward end of the portion 3l which extends into the large sleeve. At its forward end the main sleeve B is also provided with strong linen webbing 4|, suitably stitched thereto. The tubes or sleeves 28 are so arranged at their rear ends in the open end of the main sleeve B that the webbing 40 lies in the same plane as the webbing 4| of the main sleeve, and, as indicated in Figure 7, the rear ends of the small sleeves 28 at this location are suitably stitched, as shown at 50, soas to permanently connect the small sleeves 28 at their rear ends with the forward end of the main sleeve B. Of course the portions 31 of the sleeves 28 which extend into the forwardend of the main sleeve are preferably not otherwise connected together or to the main sleeve. i

, Referring to 1.the bridle construction D `for guiding movement of the air. into the sleeves of the aerial trailer, the same vcomprises aV series `of elongated plane; surfaces ,60 joined together at their longitudinal edges upon the tow axis of the trailer and radiating therefrom. These surfaces are each of the.r shapeof right angled triangles. Their apicesfare connectedtogether at the forward tow cable connecting end of the target and thehypothenuse edges thereof are located out ermost.` There are six of these fins, one for each of the sleeves 28, and at their rear ends they extend slightly into the` forward ends `of threspective sleeves with which they are associated, diametrically, across. the inside ofthe respective sleeves.Y Thusthe iin .or plane surface for. each small sleeve 428 not'onlyjdirectsthe air flow into the sleeve, vbut divides ,the air stream asitflows into the small sleeve; lthus preventing `eddi'es `and eccentricities \in .'the air stream vflow. By reference to Figures 3 and Il of the` drawingsit'will be seen that these .six ,fins of the-bridle construction are` in :reality formed o f threey sections 59 of fiexiblefabrict Thesesections of fabricare of ridenticalconstruction. They are eachin the form of anisoceles.- triangle, except attheir base ends.. Atthe base-or rear.each of these sections 59, as 'indicated` in Figure 11, is provided wtha pair of plane'extensionsl, ofa width suiiiciengl to permit the extension thereof, into they open ends ofthe sleeves 28. Each Section5!!l of fabric is reinforced alongthe sides thereof, at its apex, and around the marginal edges yof the exten,- sions AHl with strong,.linen webbing. The-three sections 58are joined togetherupon a line which would normally be thealtitude of the triangular sections 59,- and which lies in the axis of tow of the aerial` trailer, as can readily (be. understood by reference tdFigures 1.and 2 of the drawings. The length of each extension portion 10. may of course vary. Preferably it variesfromsix tof-ten inches and these extensionsA project into the forward open ends of the smaller sleeves 28;` the opposite webbing reinforcededges ofY eachof the extensionsl being stitched suitably lto the mate--r rial ofthe sleeve, at diametrically Vopposed points, so as to provide a diaphragm-like `partition-in the open end of thesleeve, diametrically Vthereacross, as indicatedin Figure 9 of the drawings'.

As indicatedin lFigure ll of the drawings each of `the fabric sections 58 at each of the partition extensions l0 is provided with webbing strips 80 which are overlapped at the outer sides of therespective sleeves withuwhlch the `eisztensions"Hlare ifa-269,469

f associated, and stitched thereto, as indicated in the various views of -the drawings. ThisA provides a very firm and strong connection between the bridle construction and the small sleeve section, with the nsll of the bridle construction so arranged as to accurately divide the air stream and guide the movement of the air flowinto the tubes 2-8, Y

Each fabric section `59 of the bridle construction is provided at its outer end with a piece of.

lE is connected in any approved manner.

From the foregoing description it can readily provided, which is particularly well adapted for use as a tow target for use in connection with anti-aircraft or other gunnery practice. For aerial gunnery the target will be towed at distances of about six` hundred feet and for antil f aircraft practice a distance lof about three thousand feet. Due to the improved construction of this tow target, sufficient area is presented to the gunner so as to furnish an adequate target.

There is a minimum of drag upon the towing aircraft, and the target is stable, without unnecessary oscillations. The fabric of which the target is constructed is preferably mercerised cotton airplane cloth, and that is true for each of the sections B, C, and D. All of these sections are entirely flexible, so far as the cloth is concerned, and so far as the linen webbing, except for the rigid shaping rings 3| which are disposed in the forward ends of the smaller sleeves 28. The diameter of these sleeves may of course vary. Preferably it is less than 1/3 of the diameter of the large sleeve B. Thus it can be-seen that the entire target may be folded into a very small compass. Due to the connection of the rings 3l they may be folded one upon the other and the fabric packed in orderly fashion so that the entire target may be launched through a small opening in the rear cockpit of a towing airplane or other aircraft. Of course the rings 3| overlap upon each other and provide a bundle which is not appreciably greater than the diameter of a single ring 3l. These rigid rings 3l are provided for the necessary stifening at the mouth end o-f the small tubes so as to obtain instant inflation as soon as the target is launched. The f'ln or bridle construction D of course insures not only a proper division of air stream into the tubes 28, but the diaphragm in the smaller ends of the tubes acts as an immediate straightener for unfolding the rings into position for inflation.

The floating cord 23 at the rear end of the tow target permits the use of a large Vent opening and thus reduces drag so that it is not appreciably greater than that of a straight opened sleeve.

The large sleeve B permits of a simple design of target and reduces the fabric required to a reasonable amount. It will of course be possible to utilize a series of long sleeves, such as provided in the section C, of small diameter, all attached together, and do away with the larger sleeve section B, but such construction would require an excessive amount of material. In order to give an idea of proportion of length, the section B in length may be about six times the length of the 'Ihese pieces of webbing 9i)` arethen v' be understood that an aerial trailer has beenfvzo times the length of the section C.

section ;C, and the section'D may beaboutfour These proportions may of course vary. f j 1 v- Various changes in the steps lof themethod; of

packing the tow target, and changes in theshape, ..size, and arrangement of parts of the improved target maybe made to the form `ofi invention herein shown and described, without departing fromfthe spirit of the invention -or the scope of ,the claims.

-Iclaim: 1 l vl. An aerial trailer comprising as the main body thereof an elongated sleeve construction having an air spill 'passageway therethrough, bridle means for directing movement of air into the sleeve connected with the forward end of the sleeve and extending forwardly therefrom,said bridle construction comprising a plurality of plane fins, said sleeve construction including a plurality of small diametered sleeves arranged in parallelism and having individual fins of the bridle construction extending into the open 'mouth ends of said sleeves for directing air fiow thereinto.

2. An aerial trailer comprising an elongated sleeve-like structure open at both endsand having a relatively long collapsible sleeve-like body open at both ends, a plurality of parallel air current directing sleeve-like cells opening into thebody sleeve at the fore end thereof, each cell b'eing open at its vfore and aft ends, stabilizing vanes at the fore vends of said cell sleeves for direc-ting vand stabilizing air draft therethrough, said vanes being arranged in relative radial-relation and in diametrical intersection with the cell-like sleeves.

3. An aerial trailer comprising an elongated sleeve-like structure open at both ends and having a relatively long collapsible sleeve-like body open at both ends, a plurality of parallel air current directing sleeve-like cells opening into the body sleeve at the fore end thereof, each cell being open at its fore and aft ends, stabilizing vanes at the fore ends of said cell sleeves for directing and stabilizing air draft therethrough, said vanes being arranged in relative radial relation and in diametrical intersection with each of the cell-like sleeves, a tow cable connected at the fore ends of said vanes, and the rear end of the main body sleeve being provided with a choked spill opening.

4. An aerial trailer comprising an elongated main body sleeve of flexible material which is relatively long to be used as a trailer for general target practice and of a nature to be collapsed bodily upon itself laterally and longitudinally, said sleeve having a passageway therethrough opening at the forward end and with a choked spill opening at the rear end thereof, a plurality of relatively shorter elongated collapsible sleeve sections connected at their rear ends within the fore end of the first mentioned sleeve and each projecting beyond the fore end of the first mentioned sleeve, said plurality of smaller sleeve sections having passageways therethrough opening at the fore and rear ends thereof, and vane means at the fore ends of said group of smaller sleeve sections to insure the direction of air thereinto.

5. An aerial tow target comprising an elongated flexible sleeve-like body which has a length dimension many times that of the cross-dimension thereof, said sleeve being provided with a passageway therethrough open at the fore and aft ends of the sleeve, means for attaching the ,1 fore` endof the sleeve to a towing vehicle,and ref silient means at the periphery of the aft opening of the target normally tending to restrict the opening and vary its size according to the pressure of the air as it spills through said opening.

6. An aerial tow target comprising an elongated flexible sleeve-like body which has a length dimension manyl times that of the cross (dimension thereof, said sleeve being provided with a passageway therethrough open at the f ore and aft ends of the sleeve, means for attaching the fore end of the sleeve to a towing vehicle, and resilient means at theperiphery of the aft opening of the target normally tending to restrict the opening and vary its size according to the pressure of the air as it spills through said opening, said resilient means comprising a floating elastic band peripherally surrounding the air spill opening.

V7. An aerial trailer comprising a plurality of flexible and longitudinally collapsible sleeves, each of which is cylindrical in formation, means grouping said sleeves together in a cylindrical arrangement, and an elongated collapsible vane construction connected with said sleeves and extending forwardly therefrom.

8. An aerial trailer comprising a plurality of flexible and longitudinallyr collapsible sleeves, each of which is cylindrical in formation, means grouping said sleeves together in a cylindrical arrangement, and an elongated collapsible vane construction including a plurality of vanes connected with said sleeves and extending forwardly therefrom, the plane of the vanes transversely intersecting the passageways through said sleeve sections for dividing the air streaml travel therethrough. t j

9. Anaerial trailer comprising a, plurality of flexible vand longitudinally -collapsible sleeves, each of which is cylindrical in formation, means grouping said sleeves together in a cylindrical arrangement, Aan elongated collapsible vane construction connected with said sleeves and extending forwardly therefrom and an elongated large diametered main body sleeve having the above mentioned cylindrical arranged smallery sleeves disposed in the fore part thereof for directing travel of air therethrough.

1:0. An aerial trailer comprising a plurality of flexible cylindrical collapsible sleeves open at their fore and rear ends, means grouping said sleeves together in a cylindrical arrangement, a rigid ring in the fore end of each sleeve for holding the sleeves open at their mouths, and means for directing air into the open ends of said sleeves.`

11. An aerial trailer comprising a plurality of ilexible4 cylindrical collapsible sleeves open at their fore and rear ends, means grouping said sleeves together in a cylindrical arrangement, a rigid ring in the fore end of each sleeve for holding the sleeves open at their mouths, and means for directing air into the open ends of said sleeves', saidringstbeing connected together so that the sleeves when they are collapsed may be arranged with the rings in a superposed stacked relation.

FRANK GEORGE MANSON. 

